Scotland give new chance to Freedman

Dougie Freedman, the Crystal Palace striker, has been recalled to the Scotland squad for the final match of their World Cup qualifying campaign. The Hearts midfielder, Scott Severin, has also been called up for the match against Latvia at Hampden Park on 6 October.

Gary Holt, the Norwich City midfielder, is also restored to Craig Brown's 25-man squad after a good start to the season, while the Dundee goalkeeper, Jamie Langfield, who was promoted to the senior squad for the recent World Cup qualifier in Belgium, is also included.

Freedman has not been selected since he was called into the squad for the ill-fated qualifying match against Estonia in the last World Cup campaign. He was a substitute in Tallinn when the Estonians did not turn up for the match following a dispute over the kick-off time.

To qualify for a play-off place, Scotland have to beat Latvia by six goals and hope Croatia lose at home to Belgium. "We are still mathematically in contention but, without wishing to admit defeat, it would be a miracle if we managed to get through," Brown said. "But we will be setting our sights on getting as many goals as we can."

The Germany coach Rudi Völler has insisted that their traumatic 5-1 home defeat to England was an accident as he prepares for the World Cup qualifier against Finland.

"You will see a team that will give everything to win," Völler said yesterday after naming his squad for the game in Gelsenkirchen on October 6. "England will remain a one-off slip-up." The coach has recalled the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Bernd Schneider, who has not played for the national side for nearly two years.

Northampton Town have named Kevan Broadhurst, the former Birmingham City defender, as caretaker manager following the dismissal this week of Kevin Wilson. Another struggling Third Division side, Bury, have appointed Graham Barrow, the ex-Chester City manager, first-team coach.